Saturday April 8
In the words of Caiaphas we have a universal truth that has shaped human civilization from its very beginning: “It is better to have one man die for the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed.” As René Girard has pointed out, humanity has always united itself at the expense of one element. A sacrificial system shapes human culture. A few examples from our daily lives: a disordered family identifies one member as responsible for its chaos and finds its peace by alienating him/her. Nothing unites a group of employees better than the sacrifice of a fellow employee or a superior through gossip. A nation that is in chaos declares war against an outside enemy and the people forget their differences and are united. Two enemies resolve their differences and team up when they spot a third one to whom they can transfer their hostilities (Remember how Herod and Pilate become friends through their common victimization of Jesus. Cf. Lk 23:1-12).
What Caiaphas fails to realize is that by allowing himself to be a victim and refusing to pass on violence, Jesus is showing a new way to organize communities—through forgiveness and inclusive love. There shall be no more victims, only brothers and sisters.
=========================================================
The evangelist Matthew relates the annunciation to Joseph, as Luke related that of Mary's. The bitter surprise of the legal father of Jesus was set-aside at the news that the angel gives about his wife Mary. Since then, this simple and just man will have to perform a delicate task that begins with the imposition of the name of Jesus (God saves) to the son of Mary. His silence and fidelity to the mission is an example that we should also follow. Jesus will be proud of this father and will not ashamed to be called the "carpenter's son".